Teen driver survives crash, girlfriend diesVictim posted about dangerous driving day before incident
RADHICA DE SILVA
Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
The Mitsubishi Evo-6 car in which teenager Kaylee Poonan was killed, was designed for speed, but Poonan’s relatives say they were never worried about her safety when her teenage boyfriend Navin Bedassie picked her up in the “souped-up” car.
Despite their tender age, relatives said Poonan and Bedassie were in love and they planned to get married and build their lives. They used to work together at Bedassie’s family doubles shed situated on the SS Erin Road.
A day before her death, Poonan, 17, of Peterloo Street, Friendship Village, St Johns, posted on Facebook saying: “no joke, mans drive like if I have extra lives.”
Police said around 6.30 pm, Bedassie was driving a red Mitsubishi Lancer at high speed on the northbound carriageway of the Solomon Hochoy Highway when the car ran off the road and collided with a pole in the vicinity of the Papourie Overpass. A video of the accident was posted on social media hours after the crash.
Bedassie, 19, of #1 Pundit Street, Debe, survived, but Poonan died.
Bedassie was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital, where he is now in critical condition. Fire officers under the supervision of FSSO Haniff had to extract Poonan’s body from the car. It was viewed by District Medical Officer Dr Santlal, who ordered it removed to the Forensic Science Centre.
Speaking at their Peterloo Street, Friendship Village home, a close relative said Poonan and Bedassie started their relationship a few months ago. He said Bedassie, who purchased the car a few days before the accident, was never a reckless driver and when they found out about the accident, they were surprised.
“We don’t know if he was into fast cars. We knew he was her boyfriend but that was all,” the relative said.
He explained that Poonan’s father Dhanesar Poonan was sickly and her mother Kaveline Poonan took care of him. As a child Poonan spent a lot of time with her uncle and cousins at Peterloo Street.
The relative said she was expected to celebrate her birthday next month.
“We normally have a little celebration for her. She loved to sing and dance. She used to be dancing all on the street. She enjoyed life and she wanted to have fun,” he recalled.
Poonan attended Barrackpore ASJA Girls’ College and finished school last year.
At Bedassie’s home at Pundit Street, his relatives said they were praying for his safe recovery.
A relative who requested anonymity said they did not know the details of the accident but saw the video of the Evo-6 racing down the street before it crashed. Police have since warned citizens to exercise caution on the nation’s roads. San Fernando Police are continuing investigations.
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